Question: Has Ha-Rav ever recited the blessing of "Blessed is He who apportioned from His wisdom to those who fear Him" when seeing a Torah scholar (Berachot 58a and Shulchan Aruch 224:6)?Answer: There is a dispute whether this blessing should be recited. Some refrain from reciting the blessing over Torah scholars because no one reaches the level of a Torah scholar as defined by our Sages (see Aruch Ha-Shulchan ibid. #6), but the Chayei Adam (63:8) ruled that it should be recited over the leading Torah scholars of each generation. The Piskei Teshuvah (vol. 2, siman 224 ,note 17) quoted many sources which indicate that this blessing was indeed recited by our great Rabbis: Ha-Rav Shimon Menashe – the Rav of Hevron - recited it for Maharil Diskin when he came to visit Ma'arat Ha-Macheplah (beginning of the book "Melo Ha-Omer). Ha-Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld recited it upon seeing Ha-Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein, Rosh Yeshivat Hevron, when he visited Yerushalayim (Marbitzei Torah U-Musar vol. 1, p. 325). In Shut Shevet Ha-Levi (10:13 #3), Ha-Rav Shmuel Wosner said that he remembers that it was recited for the Rogachover when he came to Vienna. In Halichot Shlomo (Tefillah – chap. 23 note 157), Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach related that he saw it recited for the Chazon Ish and the Chazon Ish smiled and did not say anything. In Orchot Rabbenu (vol. 1, p. 227), the Steipler Gaon told his son, Ha-Rav Chaim Kanievski, that the blessing should be recited for the Griz (Rav Velvele Soloveitchik - Rosh Yeshivat Brisk). And in Tal Re'eiyah (p. 87), our Rabbi Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah said in the name of Maran Ha-Rav Kook that the Netziv recited it for the Aderet (Rav Kook's father-in-law) when they visited in Warsaw. Rav Aviner said that he remembers hearing this blessing recited twice: for Ha-Rav Avraham Shapira (Rosh Yeshivat Mercaz Ha-Rav) and for Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef when he visited Moshav Keshet in the Golan (where Rav Aviner served as Rabbi).It is also worthwhile to mention what Rav Aviner adds in Shut Sheilat Shlomo (vol. 1 #117) regarding the visit of Rav Ovadiah to Moshav Keshet: Someone asked me: "Why does Rav Ovadiah Yosef wear clothing with silver embroidery?" I answered: "This is the traditional dress of the Sefardic Chief Rabbi throughout the generation, as we see in pictures, and why should he change the custom of those who preceded him?" I saw that he was not satisfied. I said: "Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef's humility is well-known," but he was still not satisfied! I told him a story, and even though it is not exactly the same, it is similar: "Before Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk made aliyah with his student in order to establish a Chasidic settlement in the Land of Israel, he went to visit Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonne, a great student of the Baal Shem Tov. He arrived in Polonne with a coach harnessed with three horses, which was considered glorious. This act greatly upset the Chasidim of Polonne, since their Rebbe was accustomed to a modest and frugal lifestyle. This was even more so when they saw Rabbi Menachem Mendel enter the house of their Rebbe dressed in bejeweled clothing with a long incense in his mouth. Everyone expected Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, who was known as to be stern, to expel the visitor from his house. But the Rebbe went out to greet his guest, received him at the entrance to his house with great love, kissed and hugged him, and spoke with him in private for several hours. When Rabbi Menachem Mendel departed, the students asked their Rebbe: 'What did our Rabbi see in this man who was brazen enough to come to the Rebbe's house in a coach harnessed by three horses, with a long incense in his mouth and with shoes bejeweled with silver inlays?' The Rebbe said: 'It once happened that a king went out to war and hid all of his treasures in a safe place, and he buried the most precious jewels of his fortune in a pile of dirt, being certain that no one would look for them there. So too, Rabbi Menachem Mendel hides his humility under a pile of dirt of arrogance so that the forces of evil will not touch it.'" He was satisfied.

Mission Statement

To Enrich the spiritual life of the English-speaking World through the Torah of Ha-Rav Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ateret Yerushalayim in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. By offering English translations of Rav Aviner’s written and oral Torah, this division of the yeshiva aims to expose English speakers to a powerful, sensitive and poetic voice unparalleled in our time. His unfailing optimism, his tolerance and love all Jews, his guidance for harmony within the Jewish family and his dedication to Eretz Yisrael, the State of Israel and Tzahal will inspire and enrich the lives of all who may now have access to his words.